As winter approaches, preparing homes by preventing air leaks through weatherization can save energy, reduce costs and protect the home’s condition overall.
Clark Public Utilities Public Information Officer Dameon Pesanti noted that homes built before the 1990s often lack sufficient insulation and may need upgrades. Ensuring a home’s weatherization and insulation are effective is a key step to preparing for the winter season, he said.
“All the money you spend on other investments like a new heating system … you’re not gonna get the best value out of it because you’re making heat and it’s just disappearing, or it’s just literally going out of the walls … or the air conditioning you’re making in the summertime is just getting converted to heat so quickly by the outside,” Pesanti said about poorly insulated homes.
Pesanti noted Washington homes built before the 1990s were not sufficiently weatherized and may be due for an insulation upgrade. The attic and crawlspace are particularly prone to heat loss. Homeowners can apply spray foam to reinforce areas where heat may be escaping.